Adjustable bed and spring



Jan. 2, 1951 s. CARTER ADJUSTABLE BED AND SPRING 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Filed Aug. 27, 1947 @eyeing f;

ATTE RN EYS Jan. 2, 1951 s, CARTER 2,536,534

ADJUSTABLE BED AND SPRING Filed Aug. `27, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l. l 5j 95 l nl l gm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\v am ATTD R N EY'S Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE BED AND SPRING Sydney Carter, Hingham, Mass.

Application August 27, 1947, Serial No. 770,864

ZCiaima 1 This invention relates to beds and more particularly for an adjustable head rest or end portion therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable head rest which is motor operated to return the head rest to the lowered position whereby the head rest can be returned very slowly so as not to upset a patient in the bed and whereby to provide for a spring device for raising the head rest to the raised position.

Other objects of the present invention lare to provide a bed adjusting `device wherein the rest can be `returned -slowly which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the bed win the head rest operating mechanism thereon and portions broken away and shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bed,

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through the casing for housing the motor and the driving gear and looking in plan upon the driving gear and the cable winch or reel elements thereon,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View with the head rest extended to its raised posiy tion,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air cylinder from which air .is throttled upon being retracted as when the head rest is lowered by the electric motor.

Referring now to the gures, I represents a bed spring mounted upon a bed frame I I including a head piece l2 and a footboard piece I3. The spring lll is secured within a frame I4 on which there is pivoted a head rest frame I5 carrying a part of the spring I6. The connection oi the head rest frame I5 with the frame I4 is effected by a shaft Il' on which are coil lifting springs I8 connected as indicated at I9 to the sides of the head rest frame and anchored as indicated at 2l to a transverse piece 23 extending across the bottom of the bed frame. This spring will automatically cause the head rest frame I5 with its springs to be raised when released.

At both ends of the head rest frame I5 are ratchet plates 24 with which pawls or dogs 25 fast on a shaft 25' pivoted to the bed frame cooperate to retain the head rest in any one of a plurality of raised positions. These pawls 25 are adapted to be operated by a handle 25 fixed to onefof the dogs 25 so as to pull the pawls out of `engagement with the ratchet plates 24. An expansion spring 245 keeps the pawls in engagement with the ratchets.

A lowering switch 2l is connected with power source wires 2l' and a motor control switch 2t on a vreversible motor 25 lying within a casing 3l beneath the head end of the bed and beneath the head rest. A `manually operated raising switch 32 can be operated to start the operation of the reversible motor `whereby to cause the head rest to be raised. To lower the head rest, handle 255 is pulled to release the pawl t5 from the ratchet plate 24 and to operate lowering switch 2l. To raise or lower the head rest, the motor 29 turns a worm 33 which engages with a worin wheel 34. This worm wheel 54 rotates a shaft 55 having Winches or reels 35 at the opposite ends of the saine. connects with the free end of the head rest frame I5. As the head rest I5 is raised, the motor 29 is operated to pay out the cable 3l slowly. The head rest is actually raised by the springs I8 but it is raised slowly inasmuch as the motor is turned and serves as a brake device for preventing the sudden raising of the head rest frame In order that the head rest will not be returned too suddenly by the reversible motor when the switch is thrown to operate it in the reverse direction, there are provided at opposite sides respectively, dash pots 39B as shown in detail in Fig. 5. These dash pots have intake ball valve arrangements 4I and an adjustable throttle valve outlets 42. Each dash pot further includes a cylinder 43 and a piston 44 operable therein and connected as indicated at 45 to the head piece I2 and the frame I5 respectively. The Winches 35 are accordingly operated in the reverse direction to cause the head rest to be pulled downwardly against the air pressure within the dash pots 55.

The worm gear 34 is loose on the shaft 35 and has a friction clutch part Il integral therewith. The other half 48 of the friction clutch is keyed as indicated at 45 to the shaft 35 and retained by lock nuts 5I in engagement with the clutch part lll. When the frame I5 reaches its lowered position and the switch 2l is still closed, the gear 3G will slip on shaft 35 thereby to prevent breakage of the cables and the operating parts. The friction clutch has `to be tight enough to overcome the dash pot air pressure and the tension of springs I8 in order that the frame I5 will be lowered.

Cable 3l from the Winches While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bed, the combination of an adjustable head rest, a frame to which said head rest is pivotally connected, spring means fol urging the head rest to a raised position, a reversible motor, a winch device adapted to be driven by the motor, a cable connected with the winch device and the free end of the head rest, said motor and winch device controlling the raising of the head rest by the spring means and said winch serving, when the motor is reversed, to draw the head rest to the lowered position against the action of the spring, an electric control means for controlling the operation of the reversible motor, aY

shaft on said bed frame, a head rest frame piv-.

oted on Vsaid shaft, a lifting spring coiled about said shaft, the ends of said lifting spring being anchored to said head rest frame and said bed frame, respectively, whereby said spring biases said head rest frame to a raised position relative to said bed frame, a ratchet plate attached to said head rest frame adjacent said shaft, a pawl on said bed frame Vreleasably engaging said ratchet plate whereby said head rest frame is releasably held in raised positions, a handle attached to said pawl, a reversible motor, a winch, mechanical means driven by said motor for turning said winch in opposite directions, a cable connected to said Winch and saidV head rest frame whereby rotation of said winch in one direction will lower said head rest frame about said shaft against the action of said lifting spring, a lowering switch means connected to said motor and in the path of said handle for actuation thereby for operating said motor in one direction upon disengagement of said pawl from said ratchet plate to lower said head rest frame and a raising switch means connected to said motor for operating said motor and winch in the opposite direction to free said head rest frame for raising movement by said spring.

SYDNEY CARTER.V

REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

